Subaqueous rock-breaker.



. E. BURHORN. SUBAQUEOUS ROCK BREAKER.

PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.27,1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I Eli/TOR WITNESSES:

EDWIN BURHORN, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

' SUBAQUEOUS ROCK-BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 27, 1907. Serial in). 404,161.

Patented July 7, 1908.

To all whom'tt may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN BURHORN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Hoboken, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and, useful Improvement in Subaqueous Rock-Breakers, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My improvement relates to that class of sub-aqueous rock-breakers used in river and harbor improvements, employing a reciproeating weight or hammer to drive a wedge or conical shaped point or chisel into the rock or ledge in order to shatter and disintegrate the same, and render its removal possible by dredging machines. This type of rockbreaking apparatus has been rendered much more efficient, especially in deep water, by the addition of a. caisson or tube for excluding the water from contact with the reciproeating parts, and so eliminating the water resistance that would be otherwise encountered; and it is to this im roved type that my improvement particular y relates. When operating these machines in deep water the striking parts are necessarily submerged to great depths, and hence beyond the direct observation of those operating the a paratus, and consequently if breakage of t e machine occurs at or adjacent to' these striking parts, which necessarily is a common occurrence, such breakage though it may be trivial at first, cannot be detected by the operator until serious wreck or damage ensues.

Foreign matter, such as sand, earth and small stones, may enter the spaces adjacent to the striking parts through the air vents, P, Figures 2 and 8, and cause trouble by clogging or otherwise impeding the proper action.

of the parts.

The objects of my invention are to provide means whereby the presence of any foreign matter, adjacent to the striking parts, or the breakage or disarrangement of. the parts themselves, may be immediately detected by the operator,- and thus enable him to cease operation, examine, reair, replace, or remove, any broken, or isarranged parts, or foreign matter that might cause trouble,

should further rock-breaking proceed.

Reference now being had to the drawings in which my invention is illustrated, Fig. 1. shows a vessel floating at the water line WW and equipped with rock-breaking apparatus of the lmproved type above mentioned. It shows the general arrangement of my safety device or detector. Fig. 2. shows the lower end of the tube or caisson, and the hammer; also the chisel and chisel head or striking face, and mouthpiece supporting same; with one form of my safety device applied to same. Fig. 3. illustrates the same arrangement of parts, with another form of safety device. Fig. 4. is a plan view of Fig. 2. with the hammer and tube re moved. Fig. 5. is a plan of Fig. 3., under the same conditions. Figs. 6 and 7 show another application of my device, to the same arrangement of parts, in sectional elevation and plan, and Figs. 8 and 9 illustrates in sectional elevation and plan, another form of my device.

Similar letters, refer to similar parts.

In Fig. 1. D is a vessel floatin at the water line WW, and carrying a boiler F. engine E. and air compressor L, for operating the rock-breaking machinery and keeping the tube or caisson free from water, as understood by those familiar with the art. Mounted on the vessel is the frame X, for carryin the hoisting tackle G and I, and provide with guides Q, for maintaining the caisson or tube A, upright when resting on the rock R. The tube A, extends through a well 0, in the vessels hull, indicated in dotted lines and contains a hammer H, mouthpiece B, and chisel O. This arrangement and combination of parts, has formed the subject matter of former patents and applications and is familiar to those acquainted with the art; and forms no part of the invention claimed in this specification. It is introduced solely to illustrate the relation and function of the subject matter claimed as novel.

Referring now to Fi 2., it will be seen the hammer H and the chisel-head C are in contact, as in the striking osition. Completely surrounding these stri ring parts, is the wall of the mouth ieoe B, thus leaving between them an annu ar s ace S. It is obvious, that if for instance, tie chisel-head C should crack, and a fragment should wedge in this annular space S, successive blows of the hammer H, might drive it down farther and sufficiently to fracture the wall of the mouthpiece B, and so produce a serious and expensive wreck; whereas if knowledge of the presence of this fragment in the annular space, could be immediately conveyed to the operator, he could cease operations, remove the mouthpiece, replace the broken hammer head and proceed again, without any disastrous consequences. In general it may be said, that if this annular space surrounding the two striking parts, is clear, the operation of the machine is normal and safe, the presence of anything in this space indicating that something is wrong.

In Fig. 2., m is an insulated electric wire, passing to the inside of the mouthpiece B, through the hole B The insulation consists of a rubber tube in, through which is drawn the bare wire m. After entering the mouthpiece, this wire is looped back and forth in a vertical direction, completing the full circle of the interior wall of the mouthpiece, this is shown more clearly by reference to Fig. 4. The end is secured at a higher level than the loops, and the bare wire allowed to )rotrude from the insulation as at m. It will now be obvious that if any fragment enters the annular space S, it will rupture the rubber tube and expose the bare wire to contact with any adjacent conductor.

Returning now to Fig. 1. which shows the general arrangement of my preferred device, given in detail on Figs. 2 and 4, m is a battery, and m in circuit with same, an alarm fixture such as a bell or buzzer. The circuit is composed of the wires m and m of which m connects with the safety device an as above described; and m is connected to the metallic tube A, which in turn touches the metallic hammer H, and mouthpiece B, which in turn touches the metallic chisel C. It will thusbe seen that the tube A, and all touching parts are electrified, and that a con tact with any part of the wire in, will complete the circuit and sound the alarm. This circuit is of course completed if the rubber tube m is ruptured, or the air pressure in the caisson is lessened sufficiently to let the water rise to the level of the bare end m. This latter method of making contact is useful to test the device when desired.

In Fig. 3, the underlying idea is the same though the method is different. The annular space S, is filled by the annular air tight tank N. Connected with this tank is the tube a, leading to the vessel above, through which a constant air pressure is maintained, greater than the maximum hydrostatic head due to depth of submergence. Connected to this tube is a gage, visible to the operator (not shown). It is now obvious if a fragment of one of the striking parts enters the annular space S, it will puncture the sides of the annular tank, allow the air to escape, the

loss of pressure will be registered upon the gage, and so give warning to the operator.

Figs. 6 and 7 show another application, differing from' those already described, in that nothing is ruptured or broken in order to produce the alarm. Electricity is the signaling medium used. T, is a plain metallic cylinder insulated from the mouthpiece B, by the insulating blocks 2?. The circuit is similar to that used in the device of Figs. 2 and 4, the down wire in this case being 6. It is obvious if any break occurs, and a fragment touches the cylinder T, contact will be made, and the circuit completed.

Figs. 8 and 9, in plan and sectional elevation, show another device, in which the corn dition of the striking parts can be observed by the eye. U is a tube parallel wit-h the caisson, and extending from above the water line WVIV, to the reflector box U from thence at right angles to U extends a tube U passing to the interior of the mouthpiece B, these connections being all made water tight. Inside the reflector box U is a mirror U at 45 degrees to the axes of the respective tubes U and U \Vithin the mouth- )iece B, are arranged a series of electric lamps U, fed by the wires U', which extend from the vessel above. It is perfectly clear, that upon illuminating the interior of the mouthpiece B, with the lamps U, and applying the eye of the operator U" to the open end of the tube U a perfect view of the condition of the strikin parts may be obtained.

The fundamental idea may be carried out in many ways, air could be used in the tube of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 4 instead of electricity; or electric contacts could be fitted in the annular tank of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 5; the pressure of liquids might be used in place of air or electricity, and lastly, purely mechanical combinations of levers and connecting cords or links, might be employed; for these reasons I do not limit the scope of my claims to the specific constructions shown.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. In a sub-aque0us rock-breaker, having submerged striking parts; means whereby the operator may detect the I resence of foreign matter adjacent to saic parts, or any breakage or disarrangement of said parts themselves.

2. In a sub-aqueous rock-breaker, means whereby the presence of foreign matter and broken parts in the annular space adjacent to the striking parts, may be detected by the operator.

3. In a sub-aqueous rock-breaker, a device in the annular space adjacent to the striking parts, that will be affected by the presence of foreign matter and broken parts in such space; in-combination with means for in- In testimony whereof I have signed my dicating or registering such effect at any sename to this specification, in the presence of 10 lected point. two subscribing Witnesses, on the 21st day of 4. In a sub-aqueous rock-breaker a con- November 1907. 5 tinuous tube occupying a ortion of the annular space, adjacent to t e striking arts; In presence ofand meanswhereby theru turing of sai tube -Lou1s A. PHILLIPS, may be registered at a se ected point. e i A. BOULOGNE.

EDWIN BURHORN. 

